DU Hockey Alum Joe Casey Passes Away

Former University of Denver hockey player Joe Casey passed away over the weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Joe was just 37 years old. He played at DU from 1996-2000 tallying 15 goals and 12 assists during his four year collegiate career.

Over the past decade Joe became the all-time leading scorer for the Jackson Hole Moose, a non-profit hockey club that competes in the Senior A Division of USA Hockey. Senior A is full-check hockey with no-holds barred action.
The Jackson Hole community is struggling to come to grips with the death yesterday of Moose hockey player Joe Casey.

Casey was a 13-year veteran of the Moose, the captain and all-time leading scorer. He was one of the funniest characters ever to grace the Snow King ice.

Teammates say he may have died of pneumonia. He had been feeling ill over the weekend and sought medical attention, but the severity of his illness may have been unknown. An autopsy is pending, his brother said. He was 37 years old.

Shock was the prevailing emotion late Monday night, as friends gathered in the Moose locker room at Snow King. While teammates traded stories, many people were still in disbelief, as if his death were a hoax he might have staged for a laugh.

Only three days earlier, on Friday night, he tallied two assists in Jackson’s 5-4 win over the Chicago Chargers, according to the club’s website.

4 comments:

dggoddard said...

In 2006 Joe played one year of professional hockey at the age of 31 for the CHL Rio Grand Valley Killer Bees. He took a leave of absence from his home building job in Jackson Hole to move to the Texas/Mexican border and fulfill a lifetime dream.

Unknown said...

I'm very sorry to hear this. Joe was one of the cooler hockey players when I was at DU in undergrad. I remember he talked to me once about flyfishing. he was a super friendly guy and this is very saddening.

My condolences to his family.

Nincompoop said...

Can't think of a much better tribute to Joe and the Dr that to sweep the Tigers. Lets do this.

Unknown said...

God bless Joe and everyone who had the privilege to laugh with him. He never met anyone who did not appreciate his wit and sense of humor. We, and I, mourn the loss of someone who had so much more to offer. RIP Joe.